MPs in bid to rename Big Ben tower for Queen's Jubilee

The bell contained within the tower is called Big Ben

A group of MPs have called for the tower housing Big Ben to be renamed for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

So far 23 MPs from across the political spectrum have signed a Commons early day motion calling it to be formally named the Elizabeth Tower.

At present the famous central London landmark is described by the Palace of Westminster as the Clock Tower.

High profile backers of the idea include former foreign secretaries Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

'Unbroken service'

The motion was tabled by Conservative Tobias Ellwood.

He urged the House of Commons Commission to rename the tower in recognition of the Queen's "60 years of unbroken public service on behalf of her country".

It would not be the first time a Palace of Westminster tower has been renamed after a long-serving monarch.

When the Palace of Westminster was rebuilt in 1860, the west tower - then known as the King's Tower - was renamed the Victoria Tower.

That was to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria, the only other monarch to have reached the 60-year milestone.